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Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach speaks to supporters in launching his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor, Thursday, June 8, 2017, at an events center in Lenexa, Kan. Kobach is campaigning on stopping the “culture of corruption” of government. (June 2017 file photograph/The Associated Press)

The Kansas Legislature’s leadership council agreed Friday to send a letter to Secretary of State Kris Kobach requesting explanation of his claim that a “culture of corruption” infected state
government.

The bipartisan Legislative Coordinating Council voted unanimously to seek the evidence from Kobach, who made the assertion when announcing his campaign for the Republican nomination for
governor.

“The secretary of state has insinuated a culture of corruption and is accusing the Legislature of being corrupt, which, I think, insults the integrity of this body,” said Rep. Scott Schwab, an Olathe Republican who serves as House speaker pro tem. “I get nervous when someone with prosecutorial authority accuses somebody of violating the law without a specific
charge.”

Samantha Poetter, a spokeswoman for Kobach, said the secretary of state wouldn’t comment on the council’s request until receipt of the formal letter.

Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, R-Overland Park, said evidence of corruption in the Legislature or the administration of Gov. Sam Brownback should be promptly forwarded to Attorney General Derek
Schmidt.

“I assume he means the Legislature, but it could be the administration,” Denning said. “It’s a pretty serious accusation. We’re in this mode of accountability and transparency. We need to find out what he knows so we can help him get to the root of the
corruption.”

Kobach, after years of debate in the Capitol, was granted authority by the 2015 Legislature to bring criminal charges related to voter
fraud.

When launching his campaign for governor in early June, Kobach made references to a “culture of corruption” and called for term limits for members of the Legislature in order to “drain the swamp.” He also called for changes in state law to inhibit the quick transition of legislators into lobbying
careers.